Valve for steam-engines



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. GEHRING. VALVE FOR STEAM ENGINES.

Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM GEHRING, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

VALVE FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,169, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed June 10, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM GEHRING, of San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Valve for Steam-Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed. drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam-cylinder with my improvement applied. Fig. 2 represents a side and end elevation of the valve-operating piston. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section of the cylinder and valve-chest. Fig. 4.is a longitudinal section of the tappet valve casing. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the tappet-valve casing. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the tappet-valve, and Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on line a: 00 in Fig. 7.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The object of my invention is to construct a steam-engine with automatic-valve mechanism which will be operative without the use of an eccentric or crank.

-. My invention consists in the combination,

with the steam-cylinder, of a steam-chest containing a D-valve, a piston adapted to move the D -valve, and tappet-valves arranged to be operated by the power-piston, so as to admit steam to the space at the ends of the valveoperating piston.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the valve and valve-operating mechanism, of a starting-lever, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The cylinder A is provided with a steamchest 13, which covers the valve-seat C, and is provided with a cylinder D, in which slides the piston E. The valve-seat C is provided with an exhaust-port F and with steam-ports a a, which communicate with the ends of the cylinder A. H

To the valve-seat C is fitted a double main valve G, having the cavities Z) Z), and in the back of the said main valve G there is a cavity c for receiving the arm (1, the said arm cl being mounted on the shaft 8, which extends through the side of the valve-chest and is provided with a startingdever II.

The piston E is provided with two heads f SerialNo. 313,739. (No model.)

f, which move in the spaces 9 g, and at the middle of its length it is provided with amortise h for receiving the rectangular back of the main valve G.

I11 the heads ff of the piston E are formed diagonal passages 17 i, through which steam is admitted to the spaces g g at the end of the steam-chest B.

In the lower part of the cylinder D are formed live-steam ports j j and exhaust ports 76 7a.

In the top of the cylinder A, underneath the rear ports 1: 7c, are inserted valve-casings Z, provided with a valve-seat m, to which is fitted a tappet-valve a, which is pressed to its seat by a spiral spring 0, resting upon the valve and abutting against the under surface of the valve-chest. The valve-casingl extends into the cylinder, the said casing communicating with the port a upon one end of the cylinder and with the port a at the opposite end. The vah'e-stem p of each valve n extends into the path of the power-piston I, the said powerpiston having beveled ends (1 for engaging the valve-stems p as the piston nears the end of its stroke in either direction.

The operation of my improved valve mechanism is as follows: Steam being admitted to the steam-chest B, it passes underneath the valve G, through the cavity 1) of the valve and port a of the cylinder into the back end of the cylinder, pushing the piston forward. At the same time the used steam is passing out through the port a and cavity 1) of the valve 0 into the exhaust-port F, the space 9 at the ends of the valve-operating piston E being filled with steam. \Vhile the piston E is in this position steam is entering the space g at the opposite end of the piston through the passage 2' and port j, thus practically balancing the pressure upon the opposite ends of the piston E. Under these conditions the piston I is moved forward, while the other parts of the engine are stationary; but when the said piston I engages the stem 12 of the valve n at the forward end of the cylinder it pushes the valve up, openin g communication between the space g and the port a through the casing Z and port 70', thereby allowing steam to escape from the said space g into the exhaust-port F through the port a and into the space g by the closing of the exhaustport L by the piston itself arrests the motion of the piston, and when thepassage iand port j coincide live steam is admitted to the space g; but, the pressure upon opposite ends of the piston E being practically equalized, the said piston does not move until the powerpiston I nears the end of its rearward stroke, when it engages the valve-stem p of the 'alve a at that end of the cylinder, when the steam is allowed to escape from the space g, and what was described in connection with the forward end of the cylinder now happens at the rear end of the cylinder.

The engine is started by the admission of steam to the steam-chest and shifting-valve G by means of the starting lever II.

My improved valve mechanism for steamengines is particularly adapted for use in connection with steam-pumps; but Ido not limit or confine myself to this use of my improvement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letterslatent- 1. In a valve operating mechanism for steam-engines, the combination, with the cylinder and its piston, of the steam-ehest I provided with the valve-seat 0, having ports a a I and with the cylinder 1), having the ports jj I; k','valve-casings in the top of: the cylinder, under the ports k k and communicating with ports a a, spring-pressed valves in said casings, the valve G, provided with cavities Z2 Z2, and the piston E, having ports i t" in its heads and connected with the valve G, substantially as described.

2. In valve-operating mechanism for steamengines, the combination, with the cylinder A and the steam-chest B, provided with the valve-seat (l, and cylinder I), having ports j 7" is k, of the main valve G, fitted to the seat (1-, the piston E, having the mortise h for receiving the back of the valve G and provided with passages i i, the valve-casings Z, arranged to communicate with the exhaustports 7: 7t and with the ports we, the springpressed tappet-valves 12 contained by the casings Z, and the power-piston I, having beveled ends q, adapted to engage the stems of the valves 01, substantially as specified.

WILLIAM GEIIRING. \Vitnesses:

CHARLES LEONARD'I, M. l). FAU'LK. 

